World War II Honoree

Horace Vincent 'Hap' Apgar, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Easton, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WITH THE 397TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 100TH INFANTRY 'CENTURY' DIVISION, INCLUDING WITH THE SEVENTH ARMY. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON OCTOBER 6, 1944, AND ARRIVED AT MARSEILLE, FRANCE ON OCTOBER 20, 1944. HIS REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. WHEN HOSTILITIES ENDED, HE SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES, AND WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE MONUMENTS, FINE ARTS, AND ARCHIVES (MFAA) DIVISION. THIS WAS A SPECIAL U.S. ARMY TEAM OF ART HISTORIANS, CURATORS AND SOLDIERS SELECTED TO FIND, RECOVER AND PROTECT MONUMENTS AND MILLIONS OF PIECES OF ART AND ANTIQUITIES STOLEN BY NAZI GERMANY. THE TEAM BECAME KNOWN AS THE 'MONUMENTS MEN.' AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS BATTALION IN COMBAT IN SOUTHERN GERMANY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.